Macmillan and RAINN Launch Twitter Campaign to Celebrate Speak

Macmillan Publishing and RAINN are teaming to launch #Speak4RAINN, a Twitter campaign to raise funds for survivors of sexual violence. The campaign coincides with 14th anniversary of the publication of Speak, the acclaimed novel by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Speak, a National Book Award finalist for Young People's Literature, introduces a teenage heroine who initially retreats into isolation and silence after she is raped. Ultimately, she speaks for many teenagers while demonstrating the importance of standing up for oneself. Teenage and adult survivors regularly tell RAINN that Speak is as important to their recovery as it is relatable to their experience.

The month-long campaign launches April 2. Through the #Speak4RAINN campaign, Anderson seeks to mobilize her readers and others who care about fighting sexual violence. The campaign asks supporters to donate $10 to help one survivor through the National Sexual Assault Hotline. All donations to the #Speak4RAINN campaign will be matched, up to $10,000, by Macmillan.

"I talked about the fact that I always travel with RAINN contact info, since I am always meeting rape survivors," Anderson explains. "RAINN is a resource I point people to, since they are professional, secure, and safe — they save and change lives. When the people at Macmillan heard what they do, they were very excited to partner with them."